August 10, 2021
Waka Ama takes up water safety message
Waka Ama NZ plans to use a funding windfall to get out the water safety message.
It’s one of 21 watersport and boating groups set to share a $740,000 putea from Maritime New Zealand to reduce boating injuries and fatalities.
Chief executive Lara Collins says over the past couple of years Waka Ama has worked with the Coastguard to develop a variant on the day skipper course for the sport, covering things like how to flip a waka safely, life jacket protocols, making people aware of where you are going and being aware of conditions like tides and weather.
“If there are any incidents that have happened in the past, they don’t generally happened during events and racing. They happen when people are out training. It’s just about making sure people are aware and safety-conscious and thinking about not only themselves but their whānau and respecting Tangaroa and all of the above really,” she says.
Waka Ama will use its $18,000 grant to deliver workshops online to its 90 clubs around the country as well as unaffiliated marae and iwi who may be interested.
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